§ Mr. Ancram:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with his counterpart from Nigeria concerning the attendance of Zimbabwean officials at the Commonwealth Summit to be held in Abuja in December: and if he will make a statement. [140821]
§ Mr. Straw:I hope to meet the Nigerian Foreign Minister during Her Majesty's pre-CHOGM State Visit to Nigeria. The Deputy Prime Minister spoke to President Obasanjo about Zimbabwe in the margins of the latter's inauguration in May. I met President Obasanjo in New York in September during which we discussed Zimbabwe. Our High Commissioner in Abuja has made our position on Zimbabwe clear to the President and other leading Nigerian politicians and officials on many occasions. We have also made the Nigerian High Commission in London aware of our position. President Obasanjo has announced that Zimbabwe will not be invited to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.